Fourth-quarter touchdown helps North Broward flag football advance

May 4, 2012

TALLAHASSEE — About two weeks ago when Archbishop McCarthy and North Broward Prep last met on the flag football field, very little went the Mavericks' way. A 28-6 blowout defeat was a strong indication of that fact.

So as she prepared her team for a rematch in Friday afternoon's state quarterfinals, North Broward coach Tricia Amrhein told her Eagles to prepare for a good, hard shot from their upstart, fellow Broward County foes.

It looks like she knew exactly what she was talking about.

Although the action was close for much of the contest, and despite a furious second-half Archbishop McCarthy charge, North Broward was able to hold on for a 20-12 win in the quarterfinal game at Gene Cox Stadium. With the win, the Eagles advanced to Saturday's 9 a.m. semifinal against Seminole Ridge. The Hawks beat Northeast-St. Petersburg earlier in the day.

"We've played a few teams similar to them," Amrhein said, referring to the Hawks. "Archbishop is similar to them, Palm Beach Gardens is very similar to them. So hopefully we're prepared."

After a brief pause, Amrhein then added with a laugh: "I think we are."

The win was North Broward's first in the state quarterfinals.

Senior quarterback Michelle Roque-Paskow proved she was ready for any challenge the Mavericks presented. She factored into all three of the Eagles' touchdowns.

The senior rushed for a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter and completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to receiver Christine Smith late in the third quarter. Just as the game was going into the fourth-quarter two-minute warning, she hooked up with Smith for a second time. That 22-yard touchdown pass all but iced a potential Archbishop McCarthy comeback bid.

"In big-time games like this, if you're going to be a big-time player, you've got to make big plays," Amrhein said. "All season long, she's stepped up in key moments, and once again (Friday) she did it."

Touchdowns aside, perhaps the biggest play of the day for Roque-Paskow came midway through the third quarter when she jumped in front of a Kerrin Welsh pass attempt and intercepted it. A few plays later, she found Smith on the 16-yard touchdown to expand North Broward's narrow lead to 14-6.

"It just kind of changes the momentum," Amrhein said of the interception. "When she does something like that, our girls just look to her as such a leader and they react and start playing at the top of their game, as well."

On the final touchdown drive, receiver Cheyenne Walker caught a 25-yard pass that helped set up the final key score.

Welsh was 20-for-32 passing for the Mavericks. She passed for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Seminole Ridge moves on

With a 40-0 shutout over Northeast-St. Petersburg, Seminole Ridge advanced into Saturday's semifinal with North Broward.

Quarterback Morgan Lauer played a key role in the quarterfinal. She had a hand in four touchdowns. The sophomore passed for a 3-yard score on the Vikings' first possession, and caught a legal forward lateral to run in on the next.

Lauer's third touchdown resulted in a 48-yard run down the left sideline. All three came before halftime.

Her fourth score came in the third quarter when she ran in for a 20-yard touchdown.